Halifax West Member of Parliament and Dal alum听Lena Metlege Diab (MPA鈥�87, LLB鈥�90)听sponsored a bill establishing November as Lebanese Heritage Month that members of all parties joined together to pass.
鈥淭his important recognition, on the national level, is a tribute to everything Lebanese Canadians have accomplished over almost a century and a half in our country,鈥� Metlege Diab said.
Lebanese people have been emigrating to Canada since the 1800s with the greatest influx during the听Lebanese Civil War听(1975鈥�1990).听, the Lebanese population in Canada grew by nine per cent between 1996 and 2001鈥攎ore than double the growth rate for the overall population. Today, Lebanese Canadians live across the country, with concentrations in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Windsor, Ont., London, Ont., Edmonton, Fredericton and Charlottetown. Halifax, in particular, is known for its strong Lebanese community, and the city hosts two different annual Lebanese festivals.
Lost heritage and the opportunity for rediscovery
听
In her speech on the bill, Metlege Diab touched upon the many stories she heard throughout her decades of involvement in the Lebanese community in Halifax and Nova Scotia. Her remarks highlighted those Canadians who had lost connection to their Lebanese heritage through assimilation and fear of prejudice, as well as the opportunity for rediscovery of that heritage that the proclamation of Lebanese Heritage Month in Nova Scotia provided in 2018.
With the passage of S-246, communities across Canada are now celebrating their first Lebanese Heritage Month in November 2023. The month of November is of particular significance to Lebanese around the world, as Lebanese Independence Day is marked each year on Nov. 22.
鈥淭his bill鈥檚 passage is going to encourage people to get in touch with their Lebanese heritage, foster deeper connections with Canada鈥檚 Lebanese communities, and provide a new and exciting platform for the celebration of Lebanese culture, food, history, and art in each and every province and territory,鈥� said Metlege Diab.
Just last month, Metlege Diab was recognized by听Dalhousie鈥檚 Schulich School of Law听with听听for lifelong dedication to justice, diversity and community service.
Many Dal alumni have Lebanese heritage
Metlege Diab is one of many members of Dalhousie鈥檚 alumni community with Lebanese heritage. Others include Louis Lawen (BEng鈥�94), John Lawen (BSc鈥�94), Maurice Fares (BComm鈥�09), Alex Halef (BEng鈥�01),听听(MHSA鈥�86),听听(BEng鈥�80),听Edward Arab听(BA鈥�35, LLB鈥�37), Dr. Kevin Orrell (MD鈥�81), Patricia Arab (BA鈥�99) and there are many more.
In a听听Metlege Diab, speaking a mixture of Arabic, English and French, said: 鈥淚 encourage all Lebanese Canadians to promote their traditions and culture, and to celebrate and share them with all Canadians coast to coast to coast. There is so much going on to mark our first Lebanese Heritage Month鈥�. This is the culmination of years of hard work, pride and support from generations of Lebanese Canadians, families, friends and neighbours.鈥�
With files from听.